Electric signal device



llg- 27, 1945 s. M. KENER'soN ELECTRIC SGNAL DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1,943I 2 Sheets-She'et 1 wm si ab M, amv a. @n w M r Aug. 21, v1946.

s. M. KENERsoN ELECTRIC S IGNAL DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VAK/,

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Patented Aug. 27, 1946 ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE Stanley M.

Kenerson, Springfield, Mass., assignor to The Standard Electric Time Company,

Springfield, Mass.,

a corporation of Connecticut Application October 15, 1943, Serial No. 506,315

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric signal devices of the type used in hospital nurse-calling systems.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved electric signal device of the type referred to, which requires a minimum of force to be applied to operate it.

Another object of this invention is to produce an improved electric signal device of the type referred to, formed of simple elements with a minimum number of movable parts, readily manufactured and readily assembled to produce a simple, eiiicient and durable construction at low cost.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention may be understood by reference to.

The accompanying drawings forming part of the present disclosure, in which one way of carrying out the invention is shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a central-longitudinal sectional view on line I--I of Fig. 2 illustrating one embodiment made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but with the parts in a different position of operation;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but with the parts in still another position of operation;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 5-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. "I is a perspective view of the base-rei ceptacle member;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cover-receptacle member;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the lightcircuit contacts;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the buzzer-circuit contact; and

Fig. l1 is a perspective view of the main portion of the slidable-switch contact-member.

Referring to the drawings showing the particular iorm of the invention chosen for illustration, the electric signal device primarily consists of a receptacle 2U which includes a base or body-portion 2l and a front cap 22 connected together by bolts 23 and nuts 24, with a carrier-plate 25 clamped between the parts 2l and 22.

The base 2| is made of suitable insulation material, preferably of any of the usual molded plastic materials, and is provided with a central hole 26, two bolt-receiving holes 21 for receiving the bolts 23, and five contact-member receiving holes 28. A stud or pin 29 is rmly secured to the rear wall 30 of the base 2l and extends forward axially of the opening or hole 25. Four light-circuit switch-contact members 3l are secured in four of the holes 28. Each switch-contact member 3| includes a hexagonal body-member or portion 32 adapted to slidably t in a corresponding hexagonal rear portion 33 of one of the holes 28, and has a spring-contact member 34 riveted or otherwise secured to one end of the body-portion 3.2, the other end of the body-portion 32 having a screw-threaded hole 35 to threadedly receive a screw 35, whichscrew 36 serves both to clamp the switch-contact member 3| rmly in place and also to provide for attaching an electrical wire (not shown) under the head of the screw 35. A buzzer-circuit switchcontact member 3l which is substantially identical with each of the four light-circuit switch-contact members 3l except that its spring-contact arm 38 is of shorter length than the spring-contact arm 39 of each of the contact-members 3|, is similarly secured in one of the holes or openings The cap-member 22 is also made of insulation material, preferably of molded plastic material, and is provided with an axial hole 4o therethrough, a slot 4i, a spring-receiving recess 42, a hole 43 for the passage therethrough of a flexible chain-pull 44. The two nut-members 24 previously referred to, can be secured in the eap 22 by being placed therein as inserts when the cap 22 is molded.

A plunger or electric-switch contact-means 45 includes a tubular plastic insulation member d5 through which extends the threaded shank 41 of a switch-contact member 48 having a head 49 having an annular-channeled switch-contact 50. A pushbutton-portion 5I of vulcanized i'lber or other suitable material, has screw-threaded engagement upon the screw-threaded shank 4'! and clamps a bar 52 between the parts 0.3 and 5l. The pushbutton 5l is longitudinally slidably mounted in the hole 4D, and the switch-contact 4B has a central axial bore or hole 53 slidable on the stud or pin 29. The flexible chain-pull 44 is connected by means of the hole 54 and slot 55, to one arm 56 of the bar 52, and the other arm 51 of the bar 52 is in position `to engage against a coil spring 58 seated in the recess 42.

The spring-contact arms 32 being all of the same length, close the circuits through these four contact-members when the chain-pull 44 is pulled sufficiently to slide the plunger 45 from the posi- 3 4 tion shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in intermediate position closing the circuit through Fig. 4 S0 that Current entering from one of the only certain of said fixed contacts, and when in spring-contact arms 39 will pass out through the the other extreme position closing the circuit other three spring-contact arms 39 to activate through all of said fixed contacts; spring-means any circuits desirable such, for example, as to 5 constructed and arranged to not resist the movelight electric lights, as is usual and well known. ment of said slidable switch-contact means from It will be observed that in this first stage of movesaid extreme open-circuit position to said interment, the spring 58 has not at all resisted movemediate position but to yieldingly resist the movement of the plunger 45, since it is spaced a subment of said slidable switch-contact means from stantial distance away from the arm 51, as is said intermediate position to said extreme closedclearly seen from Fig. 1, and therefore this rst circuit position; and means for sliding said slidstage of movement which lights the signal lights, able switch-contact means to said extreme openonly requires a minimum of force by the operator. circuit position. Y Now that the spring-contact arms 39 are all 2. An electric signal device, including: a reseated in the annular channel 5l) as shown in Fig. l5 ceptacle having a plurality of fixed electric switch- 4, it will be seen that the arm 51 has come into contacts; an electric switch-contact means longiposition to just be in engagement with the spring tudinally slidable in opposite directions to either 58. If now the chain-pull 44 is pulled against of two opposite extreme positions or to an interthe action of the spring 58 until the spring is commediate position; said slidable switch-contact pressed to the position shown in Fig. 5, the springmeans when in one of its said extreme positions contact arms 39 will all remain in contact with the being in open-circuit position, and when in said annular head 49 of the switch-contact 48 and the intermediate position closing the circuit through shorter spring-contact member 38 now also comes only certain of said fixed contacts, and when in in contact with the head 49 so that the circuit the other extreme position closing the circuit through the contact 38 is activated for any de- 25 through -all of said xed contacts; spring-means sired purpose, as, for example, ringing a bell or constructed and arranged to not resist the movebuzzer. ment of said slidable switch-contact means from Immediately upon release of the exible chainsaid extreme open-circuit position to said interpull 44, the spring 58 pushes against the arm 51 mediate position but to yieldingly resist the moveto push the plunger 45 from its position shown 30 ment of said slidable switch-contact means from in Fig. 5 back to its position shown in Fig. 4, to said intermediate position to said extreme closedthus leave the spring-contacts 39 all energized, circuit position; flexible pull-means for sliding but to break the circuit to the contact 38, thus said slidable switch-contact means from said explacing the latter again in open circuit conditreme open-circuit position to said intermediate tion. Thus. during operation of the chain-pull position, and against the action of said spring- 44 by a patient, once this has been pulled to its means from said intermediate position to said full extent by the patient and released, the variextreme closed-circuit position; and push-means ous signal lights light, and the bell or buzzer is for sliding said slidable switch-contact means to operated temporarily until the patient releases said extreme open-circuit position. pull on the chain 44, whereupon only the lights 3. An electric signal device, including: a reremain on. Thereafter, each time the patient ceptacle having a plurality of fixed electric switchagain pulls the chain 44, the bell or buzzer is contacts; an electric switch-contact means longioperated, while at all times the signal lights tudinally slidable in opposite directions to either remain lighted. After the nurse or other at- 0f two opposite extreme positions or to an intendant has performed such service as makes it 45 termediate position; said slidable switch-contact desirable to extinguish the signal lights, she means when in one of its said extreme positions pushes inward upon the exposed end of the pushbeing in Open-ClCilt DOStOIl, and When in Said button 5| to push the plunger 45 from its posiintermediate position closing the circuit through tion shown in Fig. 4 to its original position shown only certain of said iixed contacts, and when in in Fig. 1, where it remains until again pulled forthe Other eXtreme DOStOIl CIOSrlg the Circuit ward by a patient pulling the pull-chain 44, through all of said xed contacts; two arms rigid The invention may be carried out in other with said slidable switch-contact means; iiexible specific ways than those herein set forth without Dull-means attached to one of said arms; Springdeparting from the spirit and essential charactermeans constructed and arranged to engage the istics of the invention, and the present embodi- Other of said arms to not resist the movement 0f ments are, therefore, to be Considered in al1 resaid slidable switch-contact means from said exspects as illustrative and not restrictive. treme Open-Ciruit position to said intermediate I Claim: position but to yieldingly resist the movement l. An electric signal device, including: e, reeep- Of said slidable switch-contact means from said tad@ having a mummy 0f xed electric Switch- 60 intermediate position to said extreme closed-circontacts; an electric switch-contact means lon- Cuit DOStOll; and 011e end 0f Said slidable Switchgituclinally slidable in opposite directions to either Contact means being manually engageable for 0f tw@ Opposite @Xtreme positions 0r to an intersliding said slidable switch-contact means to said mediate position; said slidable switch-contact @Xtreme Open-CICU-l't DOStOIlmeans when in one of its said extreme positions being in open-circuit position, and when in said STANLEY M. KENERSON. 

